Cigar lighter



Feb.12,1929. 1 1,701,650

L. L. WINTERS VGIGAR LIGHTER Filed April 25, 1928 Pateiaea Feb. 12, 1929. y

LEE I. WINTERS,A OF MONROE, MICHIGAN CIGAB LIGHTER.

Application lled April 2-5, 1928. SerialI No. 272,621.

This invention relates to cigar and cigarette lighters of the type adapted for use on t-he instrument boards of automobiles andA including an electrically heated detachable lighter unit. i'

The primary object of the invention 1s the provision of a simple and inexpensive device ofthe classdescribed which is composed of.

few parts, is capable of being easily and quickly assembled, and has the parts of the 2 is an enlarged elevation similar to Fig. 1, with parts in"4 central longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is van outer end view of the detachable lighter unit of the device, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the stationary' plug member .of the deviceand its mounting with both in central longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates. a

mounting member of an electrical conductive nature, such, for instance, as a metal instrument board of an automobile andfix'e'dly mounted on this member is the stationary plug or post' member of the lighter embodying the invention. y

The plug 2 includes a shell 3 of cylindrical form, in the present instance, and composed of meta1 or other suitable electrical conductive material and havin provided at its innereend withan annular flange 5 for shouldering against the mounting member 1 or an interposed washer'. A. nut 7 is` threaded on the stem 4 and cooperates with the shoulder 5 lto rigidly secure t-he ,shell 3 to the mount'gig.- electrical lead sultbale source of elec 8 extends from anyv trical supply up through the stem 4 and shell 3, and is provided at the outer end of the shell with anexposed contact 9, which, to-

s in its inner end a stem 4project-1ngthroug an' opening in the instrument board. Thef shell 3v is-also gether-with the exposed portion of the lead 8 is insulated from'the shell 3 by an insulating sleeve 10?, which serves to fixedly mount the contact 9 witliin the shell.

The detachable socket member or lighter unit 11 of the device includes a shell, preferably of suitable 4insulating material, comprising the base member 12 and the ca member 13 threaded together and'provi ing an air circulating chamber 14 therein. The outer end of the cap 13 is'provided with an opening 15, which is closed, to the chamber .14 by a disc-like plate 16 of metal or other suitable material, except vfor the provision therein of a .series of air circulating perforations 17 provided around the disc near its outer edge. The `disc 16 is inserted into the chamber 14 from the inner end ofthe member 13 when removed from the base 12 and -bears at its marginaledge portion against the outer endwall of the chamber 14, being held insuch position as hereinafter described.

The disc 16 is provided in its centralpor-y tion` with ,a cylindrical cup-like depression 18 in which an electrical resistance. element 19 ismounted in exposed relation to the shell heating element 19 is spaced from the ,bottomv of the depression 18 by 'a washer 20 of mica or other suitable insulating material. A contact 21' is provided centrally at the underside ofthe depression 18, being spaced therefrom Aby a v,washer `22 l`of mica or other suitable insulating material and having. a stem 23 projected upward therefrom through the washers 21 and 22 and an opening in the bottom-` of the depression 18 with its upper end connected to -the yinnerend ofthe resistance coil 19. The outer end of the resistance coil 19 is projected vthrough an opening in the side wall of the depression 18 and is clamped to the outer side of such. wall by a cup member v24 whichtelesco es' the depression 18 `and'is of electrical conI uctive material. The bottom of the cup member 24 is provided with a central'opening25 to expose the contact 21.l

,The base member `12 ofthe unit 11 is provided axially'therethrough with a centrally disposed opening 26, the lower or' outer end portion of which is of suitable size to receive the plug 2, while theinner end portion there of.l is enlarged and vhas a sleeve 27 mounted therein. v,The end portion of this-sleeve which the heatin v contacts 9 and 21 are is disposed away from the chamber 14 is of a size to slidingly fit the plug 2, and lthe opposite end portion thereof is enlarged to slidingly receive a collar 28 adapted to normally seat down on the bottom 29 of such enlargement. This collar receives the lower yend thrust of a coiled compression spring 30, the opposite end thrust of which is against the bottom of the cup member 24. The enlarged end of the sleeve 27 is of suitablelength to bear against the adjacent end of the cup member 24 and cooperate therewith to' rmly hold the disc 16 to its seatl in the chamber 14 when the socket members 12v and 13 are screwed together.

The free end portion' of the .plug 2 is reduced to fit the central opening of the collar 22 and to provide a shoulder 3l on the plug against which the collar may seat. When the plug'2 is inserted into the member 11 through the o ening 26 therein, the reduced end portion of the plug enters the collar 28, and, as the inserting movement is continued, the shoulder 3l of the plug engages the collar and moves 'it inward therewith,l effecting a compression of the spring 30, such compress-y ing movement being permitted tp continue until the plug contact 9 engages the heating element Contact 21. When such contact is made the electrical circuit is closed through element, one side of which is grounded t rough the cup member 24, spring 130, collar 28, plug shelll 3 and mounting memer .1. i

A spring detent 32 is provided inthe `reduced end portion of the sleeve 27 and is adapted to enter an annular recess 33 in the plug 2 and ,yieldinglyf retaln the socket member 11 in open circuit shell member 3 of the position on the plug 2, in which position the in spaced relation, as shown in Fig. 2. When the .coil 19 is to be heated for the purpose of lighting a cigar or cigarette the unit 11 is forced inward on the plug 2 from the yielding stop position shown Fig. 2 to a point where the contact/etween 'ie desired heat, the unit 11 is removed from the plug 2 and used for the purpose desired.

It is apparent that the chamber 14 provides a considerable open `space around the cup number 24 and other metal partsso as to provide for the circulation of a. considerable quantity of air around such parts. It is found in practice that it is practically impossible toheat the shell'12, 13 of the unit 11 to such an extent as to render it too hot to be held in the bare hand without burning, even though the circuit to the heating element may be leftl closed for a. considerable time. the heating element should burn out, it only necessary to separate the shell parts 12 rangement or form o the parts,

engagement with the end contacts .contacts 9 and 21 is closed. When the' heating element has been brought up to the" -riorly of and 13, remove the disc 16 carrying the heatingelement, and substitute therefor another disc and heating element.

The cup member 24 performs several functions. It receives the thrust of the sleeve 27, so as to firmly hold the disc 16 to its seat against the outer end wall of the chamber 14 when the basel member 12 ofthe socket is screwed home. It forms a thrust forv one end of the spring y'30. It protects the insulation 22 and other delicate parts carried by the disc 16 from the thrust of the sleeve 27 and spring 30. Its bottom portion is preferably spaced from the insulation 22 and the bottom portion of the cupped recess 18 to provide therebetween circulation of air for cooling purposes. It also f orms a part of the electrical connection between one terminal of the resistance coil 19 and the shell 3 of the plug 2 when the latter is inserted in the' socket.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any s eciic construction, arasv it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to sec-ure by Letters. Patent is l. In a device. of the class described, a plug 05 member forming two contacts, onebeing at the end thereof, a socket member having a chamber ther'ein into which the plug may be projected and having an opening at one si de of said chamber, a-member closing said opening and having air circulating openings therethrough providing communication between said opening and the chamber, an electrical resistance unit carried by said member and exposed to said opening and having a contact at the inner side of said member for of the plug member when inserted to its -full extent into thesocket member, and means within said chamber yieldingly' retaining the end con- 1I0 tact of the plug out of engagement with said heating element contact and forming an electrical connection between said -element and the other contact of said plug.

2. In a device of the class described, a plug member providing two contacts, one at an end thereof, a socket member adapted to receive the plug member and having its socket provided with an enlargement forming an air circulating chamber with the outer end of said chamber open, a closure member for sa id opening having air circulating openings therethrough providing communication between said opening and chamber, an electric resistance unit carried by said closure member in exposed Vrelation to said opening and vhaving acontact at one end disposed intethe chamber in position to be engagedby the en-d contact of the plug when inserted a predetermined extent in the socket engagement'with the plug member and having a portion of its Socket enlarged to form an air chamber, the outer endlof the socket member having an opening, a closure disc "for said opening mounted 'within said chamber and having a central depressed portion and air'circulating perforations around said depression 1n communication with said chamber and opening,l a resistance element mounted in said depression and having a centrally disposed contact insulated from said disc and exposed (to the interior ofsaid chamber for enga ement with the end contact of theplug mem r when inserted the fullextent into the socket member, and means within the socketmiember actin tol normally retain the end-contact of 1the plig member spaced from ,the-central contact of the resistance' element and also forming the electrical connection between the-other end of said resistance element and the side contact of the plug member `when the latter'is inserted in the socket mem- 4. In a device of the class described, a plug member having an end contact and a side contact, a .socket member ca able of detachable engagement with the p ug member and having a portion of its socket enlarged to form an air chamber, the outer end of the socket member having an opening, a closure disc forl said opening mounted within said chamberand having a central depressed portion and air circulating perforations around said depression in communication with said chamber and opening, a resistance element mountedl in said depression and having a centrally disposed contact insulated from said disc and exposed to the interior of said chamber for enga ement with the end contact of the lug mem er when inserted the full extent into the socketimember, and means i within said chamber serving to retain said disc member in its osition within the chamber and also norma l retainin the end contact of the plugmem r space from the central contact of a resistance element an form- .is inserted in a socket member.

ing the 1electrical connection between anotherY part of the resistance element and the side contact of the plug member when the latter 5. In a device of the class described, a plu member having an end contact and a si e contact, a socket member having its socket provided with an interior enlargement form .chamber and the atmosphere, said heating element having a contact exposed t'o the interior of said chamber in osition to be enl gaged by the end contact o the plug member when such member is inserted into the socket member, and yielding means normally retain- -ing said resistance contact and the end contact of the plug member in spaced relation and also serving as an electrical connection between another portion of the resistance element and the side contact of the plug membcr when the latter is inserted in the socket member.

6. In a device of the class described, a plug member having an end contact and a side -contact, a socket member having its socket provided with van interior enlargement forming an air chamber and having an opening at the outer end'of said chamber, a resistance element, means carrying said element and disposed Within the outer end portion of said chamber with the element exposed to said o ening and having perforations around the clment, said socket member having. provision for openin communication between said chamber and e atmosphere, said heating element having a contact exposed tothe interior of said chamber in position to be engaged. by the end contact of the plug mem.- ber when such member is inserted into the socket member, and yielding means normally retaining said resistance contact and the end contact of the plug member 1n-spaced relation and also serving as an electrical connection between another port-ion of the lresistance element and the side contact of the plug member when the latter is inserted in the socket member, said yielding means also serving to retainsaid resistance element carrying means in position within the socket member.

l7. In a 'device of the class described, a plug having an end contacty and a side contact, a socket member for receiving said plug and having its socket provided with an en-v largement interiorly of the member to form `an 'air chamber. with the outer end of said portion, an electrical resistance element mounted in the depression of said disc and having a contact 'at one, end exposed to the in jiio teiior of said chamber inf osition to beengaged by theend contact ol the plug when inserted in the socket member, a' cup member fitting around the depressed portion of said 'disc and having electrical connection with 8u In aldevice of the class described, a socket` member for receiving said plug and having its socket provided with a chamber open at one end, a disc disposed within said chamber for closing the open end there-of and having a depressed central portion, a resistance unit disposed within said depressed portion and having a terminal extending without one side thereof, a cup memberitted over the recessed portion of the disc in electrical connection with said. terminal, and means in releasable thrust contact with said cup member for acting therethrough to hold the disc member rmly seated in the socket;

l 9. In a device of the class described, a socket member comprising a detachable cap and base members forming a socket with an enlarged chambered portion, -a disc seated in n oney end of the chambered portion and having an inwardly cupped central portion, an electric resistance unit mounted'in the cup portion of the disc, a separate cup member mounted over the said cupped portion and having electrical connection with one end ofJA the resistance element, and ymeans carried by the base member of the socket for thrust en- 'gagement with the c upmember to act therethrough to retain the disc irmly seated in l the chamber when the socket members are assembled, .and `a plug member for insertion into the socket and having spaced contacts,

one for engagement with one terminal of the electrical resistance and another for electrical connection with said cup member.

`10. In a device of the class descirbed, a socket having separable base and Vcap members and forming a chamber with one end minal, a cup member mounted over the depressed portion of the disc in electrical connection with the Iside terminal of said ele-` ment and having an opening in its closed end portion exposing the central terminal of the element, said cup member being spaced at its bottom from the bottom of said recessed portion, a sleeve in the base member of the socket coacting with the inner end of the cup member to retain the disc seated in the socket when the socket members are assembled, a collar mounted for limited axialreciprocatory movements in said sleeve, a coiled expansion spring disposed within the sleeve between said collar and said cup member in opposedy thrust contact therewith, and a plug member for insertion into the socket and having a centered contact for engagement with the centered contact of the resistancey element and a side contact for electrical connection through said collar, sleeve and spring with said cup.

member, said plug having shouldered engagement with 'said collar whereby the centered contact to the plug is normally retained out of engagement with the centered contact of the resistance element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

LEE L. WINTERS. 

